Our Community

Shambhala is a diverse community. Our centres are located in different regions of the world, and reflect different nationalities, cultures, languages, ethnicities and races. In addition, people who come to our centres may have different religious faiths, follow different spiritual traditions or teachers, or have different paths of practice and opinions, including political views. They have different ages and genders, as well as different sexual orientations, and physical, perceptual and mental abilities.

What we share as a community is a desire to lead sane, dignified, and confident lives. Through the practice of meditation we cultivate the capacity to be fully open to our experience, and the ability to respond to everyday life situations with greater clarity and respect—respect not only for our life situations and ourselves, but for all individuals, social groups and cultures as well. Becoming a member of Shambhala is a statement about your personal inspiration, curiosity, and commitment to the path of awakening.

Shambhala is committed to a practice, study, and work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. It is each person’s right to be free from harassment, mistreatment and discrimination. In addition to being bound individually and as a community to basic Shambhala and Buddhist standards of conduct, we are also citizens of the larger communities in which our centres are located worldwide and, therefore, must abide by public laws. These include but are not limited to laws pertaining to alcohol, drugs and sexual conduct. Each individual has the right to practice, study and work in an atmosphere that is free from discrimination. If you are concerned that the behaviour of a member of the Shambhala community, including any of its office-holders, may not have been in accordance with this statement of principle, please read our Shambhala Care and Conduct Policy (also available in Spanish and German).